Q: My 8-year-old son got a “fat” letter from school that said he was overweight for his height. He is a little chunky and I worry about his weight especially with all the news about childhood obesity. I try to give him healthy foods. I know he doesn’t get enough exercise but it’s hard in the winter. What can I do to help him be healthier?

A: School districts are required by law to assess everybody so every child receives a letter calculating their BMI or body mass index, a measure of body fat based on height and weight, the Help for Families panel says.

The purpose of the notification is to identify children who should be further assessed by their primary care physician, says panelist Dr. Leo Heitlinger.

“This tells parents they should go to a professional to have an assessment done,” he says.

“It’s OK to ask for help,” says panelist Joanne Nigito-Raftas. “What you are doing isn’t working. You need another approach. You need to change something.”

There are many things you can do at home. Food is about choices, Heitlinger says.

“The dilemma in most families is they never really know what they’re supposed to eat,” he says. “As parents you need make better choices. If parent make better choices everybody is healthier.”

Don’t have unhealthy snacks such as Oreos in the house, he says. There is an assumption that juice is great thing, but it’s full of sugar. He recommends children drink water or milk.

“You need to have a healthy eating plan,” says panelist Denise Continenza. “All things should be in moderation

Frame it as a healthy lifestyle change and don’t single out the child, says panelist Rochelle Freedman. .

There is an assumption that school food is healthy and at school they are watching what kids eat but it’s wrong, Heitlinger says. Make lunches for your children. You control portion size and it’s healthier.

Buy fruits and vegetables for snacks. Heitlinger says. Kids need to kids need to make choices but with supervision. Don’t have unhealthy snacks available and find snacks that are fun but healthier such as nachos with beans.

“Both child and parent are accountable,” he says. “The child makes a choice but the parent facilitates it by having the right choices available.”

Watch portion size, Heitlinger says. Most people feed kids too much.

Eat dinner together as a family.

“Eating and sitting in front of the TV is a double whammy,” Nigito-Raftas says.

East three meals a day and don’t skimp on breakfast.

“Breakfast is key for good school performance,” Heitlinger says. “and serve protein not a Pop tart.”

He also recommends an hour of activity a day which can include swimming, biking or walking. In the cold weather, try sledding, skating or skiing.

“Go to the mall and walk for an hour,” he says. “It’s relatively safe and climate controlled. Make it simple and accessible.”